EDITOR'S NOTE: OrilliaMatters is partnering with Sustainable Orillia to publish a weekly tip. Check back here every Tuesday evening for a new tip. For more information, visit the Sustainable Orillia website.
Did you know that there are almost six million dogs and eight million cats in Canada? We love our pets, but just like humans, caring for pets can generate a lot of plastic waste that ultimately ends up in our landfills or oceans. Not a good thing – so here are a few tips to make your pet’s lifestyle more eco-friendly:
- Use stainless steel or ceramic bowls for food and water;
- Look for bamboo kitty litter trays (or other natural materials) and forego plastic liners;
- Look for the increasingly number of biodegradable kitty litter options coming onto the market that will make dealing with our cats’ waste gentler on the environment;
- Take a close look at the packaging for your dog or cat’s food – some of those larger bags are not recyclable and we should give them a miss if possible; The best alternative is to source an open-bin supplier for your pet food and do away with single use packaging all together;
- Make or get a wooden dog house, instead of a metal or plastic cage;
- Look for toys made from natural materials, like bone, rubber or ropes; and
- Use biodegradable bags to pick up pet waste.
The eco-friendly disposal of pet waste is another area that deserves attention. According to the City of Orillia website, pet waste accounts for approximately 16% of collected waste in Orillia, the equivalent of about 380 cars.
It’s currently not accepted in Orillia green bins, which places more responsibility on us, the pet owners of Orillia to source out sustainable solutions for handling our pet’s waste. Here’s the link to learn more about some home-based options to sustainably dispose of pet waste.
These are just a few ideas that will help reduce the amount of plastic in your pet’s life and yours. And it’s always good to remember that it is the little things we can do every day that help make a sustainable difference longer-term.
